![Marija Fjodorova](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/3564?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Marija Fjodorova
Research Associate, Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute
- FjodorovaM@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29206 88244
- Hadyn Ellis Building, Room 3.41 - Desk 1, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Overview
I am a Research Associate in Professor Meng Li's group.
My ultimate goal is to understand molecular basis of neuron dysfunction in neurodegeneration and psychiatric disorders and translate these findings into innovative therapeutic interventions. The main focus of my work is on the developmental biology and mature function of human neurons, specifically medium spiny neurons, dopamine neurons and cortical neurons. I aim to unravel molecular mechanisms behind neural fate induction and subsequent terminal differentiation in healthy and diseased neurons via an integrated experimental approach involving in-vitro stem cell differentiation and contemporary genetic manipulation.
Publication
2023
- Fjodorova, M., Noakes, Z., Cabezas De La Fuente, D., Errington, A. and Li, M. 2023. Dysfunction of cAMP-Protein Kinase A-calcium signaling axis in striatal medium spiny neurons: a role in schizophrenia and Huntington’s disease neuropathology. Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science 3(3), pp. 418-429. (10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.03.010)
2020
- Li, M., Noakes, Z. and Fjodorova, M. 2020. A role for TGFβ signalling in medium spiny neuron differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. Neuronal Signaling 4(2), article number: NS20200004. (10.1042/NS20200004)
2019
- Fjodorova, M. et al. 2019. CTIP2-regulated reduction in PKA-dependent DARPP32 phosphorylation in human medium spiny neurons: implications for Huntington’s disease. Stem Cell Reports 13(3-6), pp. 448-457. (10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.07.015)
2018
- Fjodorova, M. and Li, M. 2018. Robust induction of DARPP32-expressing GABAergic striatal neurons from human pluripotent stem cells. In: Precious, S., Rosser, A. and Dunnett, S. eds. Huntington’s Disease., Vol. 1780. Methods in Molecular Biology New York: Humana Press, pp. 585-605., (10.1007/978-1-4939-7825-0_27)
2017
- Fjodorova, M., Torres, E. M. and Dunnett, S. B. 2017. Transplantation site influences the phenotypic differentiation of dopamine neurons in ventral mesencephalic grafts in Parkinsonian rats. Experimental Neurology 291, pp. 8-19. (10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.01.010)
2016
- Noakes, Z., Fjodorova, M. and Li, M. 2016. Deriving striatal projection neurons from human pluripotent stem cells with activin A. Neural Regeneration Research 10(12), pp. 1914-1916. (10.4103/1673-5374.169621)
2015
- Fjodorova, M., Noakes, Z. and Li, M. 2015. How to make striatal projection neurons. Neurogenesis 2(1), article number: e1100227. (10.1080/23262133.2015.1100227)
- Coulson, J. M., Murphy, K., Harris, A. D., Fjodorova, M., Cockcroft, J. R. and Wise, R. G. 2015. Correlation between baseline blood pressure and the brainstem FMRI response to isometric forearm contraction in human volunteers: a pilot study. Journal of Human Hypertension 29(7), pp. 449-455. (10.1038/jhh.2014.103)
- Arber, C. et al. 2015. Activin A directs striatal projection neuron differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. Development 142(7), pp. 1375-1386. (10.1242/dev.117093)
2013
- Fjodorova, M. 2013. Characterisation of embryonic ventral mesencephalon grafts in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
2012
- Kirov, G. et al. 2012. De novo CNV analysis implicates specific abnormalities of postsynaptic signalling complexes in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Molecular Psychiatry 17(2), pp. 142-153. (10.1038/mp.2011.154)
Articles
- Fjodorova, M., Noakes, Z., Cabezas De La Fuente, D., Errington, A. and Li, M. 2023. Dysfunction of cAMP-Protein Kinase A-calcium signaling axis in striatal medium spiny neurons: a role in schizophrenia and Huntington’s disease neuropathology. Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science 3(3), pp. 418-429. (10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.03.010)
- Li, M., Noakes, Z. and Fjodorova, M. 2020. A role for TGFβ signalling in medium spiny neuron differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. Neuronal Signaling 4(2), article number: NS20200004. (10.1042/NS20200004)
- Fjodorova, M. et al. 2019. CTIP2-regulated reduction in PKA-dependent DARPP32 phosphorylation in human medium spiny neurons: implications for Huntington’s disease. Stem Cell Reports 13(3-6), pp. 448-457. (10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.07.015)
- Fjodorova, M., Torres, E. M. and Dunnett, S. B. 2017. Transplantation site influences the phenotypic differentiation of dopamine neurons in ventral mesencephalic grafts in Parkinsonian rats. Experimental Neurology 291, pp. 8-19. (10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.01.010)
- Noakes, Z., Fjodorova, M. and Li, M. 2016. Deriving striatal projection neurons from human pluripotent stem cells with activin A. Neural Regeneration Research 10(12), pp. 1914-1916. (10.4103/1673-5374.169621)
- Fjodorova, M., Noakes, Z. and Li, M. 2015. How to make striatal projection neurons. Neurogenesis 2(1), article number: e1100227. (10.1080/23262133.2015.1100227)
- Coulson, J. M., Murphy, K., Harris, A. D., Fjodorova, M., Cockcroft, J. R. and Wise, R. G. 2015. Correlation between baseline blood pressure and the brainstem FMRI response to isometric forearm contraction in human volunteers: a pilot study. Journal of Human Hypertension 29(7), pp. 449-455. (10.1038/jhh.2014.103)
- Arber, C. et al. 2015. Activin A directs striatal projection neuron differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. Development 142(7), pp. 1375-1386. (10.1242/dev.117093)
- Kirov, G. et al. 2012. De novo CNV analysis implicates specific abnormalities of postsynaptic signalling complexes in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Molecular Psychiatry 17(2), pp. 142-153. (10.1038/mp.2011.154)
Book sections
- Fjodorova, M. and Li, M. 2018. Robust induction of DARPP32-expressing GABAergic striatal neurons from human pluripotent stem cells. In: Precious, S., Rosser, A. and Dunnett, S. eds. Huntington’s Disease., Vol. 1780. Methods in Molecular Biology New York: Humana Press, pp. 585-605., (10.1007/978-1-4939-7825-0_27)
Thesis
- Fjodorova, M. 2013. Characterisation of embryonic ventral mesencephalon grafts in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Research
The main focus of my work is on the developmental biology of human neurons, specifically medium spiny neurons, dopamine neurons and cortical neurons. The aim is to unravel molecular mechanisms behind neural fate induction and subsequent terminal differentiation in healthy and diseased neurons via an integrated experimental approach involving in-vitro stem cell differentiation and contemporary genetic manipulation. Novel strategies that drive pluripotent stem cells into clinically relevant neurons are devised and evaluated for their efficacy and functionality in-vivo in collaboration with Cardiff University's Brain Repair Group.
I. I generated knock out and overexpressing human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines to study the role of CTIP2 transcription factor in the development and functional maturation of striatal neurons and found that CTIP2-deficient hESC-derived MSNs exhibit Huntington's disease-like neuronal defects.
II. I optimised differentiation protocols for hESCs and produced transplantable and functioning medium spiny and dopamine neurons that were successfully tested in-vivo in collaboration with Cardiff University's Brain Repair Group.
Biography
November 2013 - present:
Research Associate in Professor Meng Li's group. The main focus of my work is on the developmental biology of human neurons, specifically medium spiny neurons, dopamine neurons and cortical neurons. The aim is to unravel molecular mechanisms behind neural fate induction and subsequent terminal differentiation in healthy and diseased neurons via an integrated experimental approach involving in-vitro stem cell differentiation and contemporary genetic manipulation.
October 2009 - September 2013:
Wellcome Trust PhD in Integrative Neuroscience under the supervision of Professor Stephen Dunnett titled " Characterisation of embryonic ventral mesencephalon grafts in a rat model of Parkinson's disease". The main aim of the project was to investigate the impact of the donor age and transplantation site on dopamine neuron subtypes in the grafts. This work added further knowledge regarding the survival of rat embryonic dopaminergic grafts in terms of the populations of cells involved and their distribution within the graft. Also, this research provided hallmarks for the improved yield of functionally important dopaminergic neurons that will contribute to better cell replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease patients.
September 2006 - June 2009:
BEng (Hons) Medical Engineering ( 1st Class), University of Bradford.